Aug. 2013 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

It has been a while since I last wrote. As I meditate on the Lord in these past few months, I felt led to write you a message on God’s (Broad) Timetable.

God, through Moses, has commanded the Israelites to observe the Jewish Feasts each year on an annual 7-month cycle basis. The Jews have faithfully done so for the past 3500 years. God, in return, has blessed them and their land, turning a dessert into an oasis, a land of abundance, truly a land flowing with milk & honey [Exo. 3:8]!

The New Testament Church can learn a lot from the Old Testament teachings God gave to the Nation of Israel through Moses. The yearly Jewish Feasts help us to understand God’s Plan of Salvation and His time table for the Church, the Body of Christ, which will comprise of Jews & non-Jews who confess Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

1) 3 Feasts of Passover [Spring Feasts]

i)              Feast of Passover

[Lev. 23:5]

5      The LORD's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.

ii)             Feast of Unleavened Bread

[Lev. 23:6-8]

6 On the fifteenth day of that month the LORD's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast.

7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

8 For seven days present an offering made to the LORD by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.'"

iii)           Feast of First Fruits

[Lev 23:9-14]

10 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.

11 He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath.

12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb a year old without defect,

13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil an offering made to the LORD by fire, a pleasing aroma and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine.

14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

2) The Feast of Pentecost

[Lev. 23:15-17]

15 "'From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.

16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD.

17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the LORD.

3) The Feast of Tabernacles [Autumn Feasts]

i)              The Feast of Trumpets

[Lev. 23:24]

"Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts.

ii)             The Feast of Atonement

[Lev. 23:27,32]

27 "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire.

32 It is a sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath."

iii)           The Feast of Tabernacles

[Lev. 23:34]

"Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days.

The first 3 Feasts together with the Feast of Pentecost have been fulfilled by Jesus and the Holy Spirit through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, His resurrection 3 days later, and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 believers in the Upper Room.

For the Church, they are fulfilled when a person confesses their sins and accept Jesus as Lord & Saviour (Passover), born-again (First Fruits), gets baptized in the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) and continues to live a holy life (without yeast – Unleavened Bread)

These have gone on in the past 2000 years.

Since 2000 AD, we have entered into the last 3 feasts, signaling the end of the Church Age soon.

We are in the time of the Feast of Trumpets and Feast of Atonement, warning unbelievers to repent and proclaiming the imminent 2^nd Coming of Jesus. The increase in frequency of earthquakes, floods, crisis, strifes and wars are signs referred to as the end of the age in [Matt. 24],

Time is running out!

Then the world will enter 3 and 1/2 years of Great Tribulation – a time of unprecedented suffering before the real end of the Church Age and the start of the Millennium, the 1000 year rule of Jesus on earth (Feast of Tabernacles).

God has also hidden this time-table in the construction of the Tabernacle He instructed Moses to build.

a)   Dimension of the Outer Court

[Ex 27:18]

The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high, and with bronze bases.

(100+50+100+50)x5 = 1500 years = Old Testament period

b)   Dimension of the Tabernacle

[Ex 26:15-23]

15 "Make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.

16 Each frame is to be ten cubits long and a cubit and a half wide,  

18 Make twenty frames for the south side of the tabernacle

20 For the other side, the north side of the tabernacle, make twenty frames

22 Make six frames for the far end, that is, the west end of the tabernacle,

23 and make two frames for the corners at the far end.

(30x10x10) = 3000 years

Holy Place – Church Age

(20x10x10) = 2000 years

Most Holy Place – Millennium

(10x10x10) = 1000 years

I would proclaim (with trumpet blasts) that the Church Age is nearly up. Whilst we do not predict exactly the day or hour of Jesus 2^nd Coming, God’s (Broad) Timetable illustrated above confirms the  time we are in.

May I encourage you to “spiritually” observe the Jewish Feasts by doing the following:

1)   Feast of Passover – repent of your sins and accept Jesus as you Lord & Saviour (if you are not a believer yet)

2)   Feast of Unleavened Bread – continue to live a Holy Life (free of sins - Lust of the Eyes, Lust of the Flesh and Pride)

3)   Feast of First Fruit – be born again (and look forward to a resurrected body in heaven)

4)   Feast of Pentecost – get baptized in the Holy Spirit

5)   Feast of Trumpets – share the Good News of Jesus Christ with unbelievers (family members, friends, colleagues, strangers that cross your path)

6)   Feast of Atonement – encourage unbelievers to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord & Saviour

7)   Feast of Tabernacles – look forward eagerly to the 1000 years of reign with Jesus on earth (while Satan will be bound for 1000 years)

May the Lord bless you and keep you until His 2^nd Coming!

Dec. 2012 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

Christmas greetings from Hong Kong in the wonderful name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 

In my message in Dec. 2011, I wrote about 2012 as a year that would mark the beginning of the end of the world, and a 7-year Tribulation would precede the end. Some said that the Tribulation was imminent, whilst some said it had already started, by judging recent disastrous events happening in the world, be it economic or natural. I said it was without doubt that the end was near.

As we come to the end of 2012, people of all faiths and atheists in the world talked about the 21^st December with great interest, the date regarded as the end-date of a 5125-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar (Maya calendar).  

The date is not the end of the world, as many speculated, but it is certainly a key date starting what are to come.

Going forward, we can expect all of the signs foretold by Jesus to occur in greater frequency and intensity:

[Matt 24:4-8]

4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no-one deceives you.

5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are the beginning of birth-pains.

9 "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,

13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

21 For then there will be great distress, unequalled from the beginning of the world until now — and never to be equalled again.

22 If those days had not been cut short, no-one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

The birth-pains have started. They will build up progressive to the moment of birth (return of our Lord Jesus). Unfortunately, the worst (the greatest pain) is yet to come!

God is a God of love and mercy. He has demonstrated this through the sacrificial death of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ some 2000 years ago.

God is also a God of righteousness and justice.

He has patiently waited for men to repent in the last 6000 years. But, to be fair to the faithful, He will not wait forever. As far as I can see, God’s final judgment has already started.

1)    Many will come in my (God’s) name

[Ps 125 NIV]

1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures for ever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and for evermore.

3 The sceptre of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.

5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers…..

Christian or Christian-in-name leaders beware, be they in the church or in the world, no one can fool God or use His name to do evil.

[Ex 20:7 NIV]

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

2)    Nation will rise against nation / kingdom against kingdom / famines / earthquakes

[Hag 2:5-7 NIV]

5'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all nations…….

God is shaking the nations through wars, famines and earthquakes. The purpose of His shaking is two fold:

a)     Wake up call for believers and not-yet-believers alike

b)     Punishment for the wicked

3)    Hated by all nations because of me (Jesus) / turn away from the faith / betray and hate each other

[Rev 13:1-10 NIV]

1 And the dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.

2 The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

3 One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.

4 Men worshipped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who is like the beast? Who can make war against him?"

5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for forty-two months.

6 He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling-place and those who live in heaven.

7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation.

8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.

9 He who has an ear, let him hear.

10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

At the same time Satan the Devil will battle with God for the souls. The final battle will be for 42 months during the Great Tribulation. The Devil will have authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. He will war against the saints, causing the weak in faith to fall and worship the devil instead of God. “This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.”

Personally, I believe and know by faith that everything happens for a reason. They include all kinds of suffering, senseless killing and death (including that of infants) etc. etc.. A lot of things do not seem to make sense. But I know with certainty that we can get a satisfactory answer on every single case from God when we see Him face to face one day.

4)    Son of Man will appear in the sky with power and great glory

[Prov 16:1-11,20,33 NIV]

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends — even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

The good news is that God will punish the wicked according to His principles of justice and righteousness.

The good news is that God will watch over the faithful and bless them accordingly. 

The good news is that God (Jesus Christ) will return in glory and power at the end of the Great Tribulation.

Be encouraged to know that “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD”

August 2012 - Blessings of Divine Guidance

"The Party” is over. On August 12^th, the curtain fell on the London 2012 Olympics. The Closing Ceremony, showcasing the best of British musical performers, was described as a warm, inclusive affair. Everyone appeared to have enjoyed “The Party”. The host country, shrunk from an empire on which the sun never set, expressed disbelief at coming 3^rd in the medals table after USA and China, amassing a haul of 29 gold medals!

The Book of Daniel in the Bible outlined the major Kingdoms that ruled the world since the Fall of Man:

[Dan 2:31-35 NIV]

31 "You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue — an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.

32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,

33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.

35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing-floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
 

Whilst the British Empire (Kingdom), symbolized by the legs of iron, conquered a large part of the world, the last Kingdom will conquer the whole world, admittedly briefly. It will be headed by the AntiChrist. This last Kingdom on earth, before the return of the Lord Jesus, is symbolized by the feet of iron and clay; it will be smashed by the rock (Jesus Christ).

Whilst the Olympics events push the boundary of human abilities through sporting events in the natural, spiritually, they honour and exalt the god of the world.

I personally believe that the 2012 Olympics was fittingly held in London as the last “Party” on earth. In its conception, demonstrated beautifully in the design of the Olympics torch, uniting the nations of the world in the opening ceremony, signifying an altar for the god of the world. In the Closing Ceremony, we saw the design of a phoenix rising from the ashes, resurrecting a Kingdom that exalts human endeavors and achievements. Spiritually, the god of the world is making an attempt to unite the world and prepare for the rise of the AntiChrist. 
 

This is the time for all believers of Jesus Christ to be alert as the greatest deception sets in. Watch out for all the signs mentioned in Matthew 24:

[Matt 24:7-8]

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Whilst we are witnessing Matthew 24 before our very eyes, the Book of Revelation gives further  insights as to what are to come:  

[Rev 12:8-9]

The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
 

The devil and his angels, who used to roam in the 2^nd heaven, will be hurled to the earth. They will go on to rule and reign in the last Kingdom on earth with great deception for 42 months.

[Rev 13:15-17]

15 He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed.

16 He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead,

17 so that no-one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

This is the biggest challenge for all believers: NOT TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST, a computer chip that will be needed for buying or selling. Our very salvation will be at stake!
 

Our God is righteous and everlasting; His precepts are forever right.  “Righteous are you, O LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statutes are for ever right; give me understanding that I may live. [Ps 119:137-144]

We will see the power of our God being displayed before our very eyes; He will punish the guilty with whirlwind, storm, earthquake and flood. “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet……The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him…..with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of…….his foes……” [Nah 1:3-13]
 

“These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you………He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. [Rev 3:1-6] Let us endure in our faith and overcome the plan of the AntiChrist. When we do this, our names, found in the book of life, will be acknowledged by Jesus before the Heavenly Father and His angels!

“My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart for ever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,” [Prov 6:20-23]